Archive for January 25th, 2016

A delegation of activists will deliver invitations to Gov. Bruce Rauner donors and corporate beneficiaries of his policies to hear the community’s response to the upcoming State of the State address and the devastation that Rauner’s policies have wreaked on low- and middle-income families.

The invitations will be delivered Monday, Jan. 25 to Citadel hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin, the CEO of Rauner’s former company GTCR, and Bank of America. The delegation will hold a 4:00 p.m. press conference at Citadel, LLC before delivering the invitation to CEO Ken Griffin, the state’s wealthiest resident.

Gov. Rauner has refused to listen to those outside of his income bracket so working families will go directly to the big banks and corporations that the Governor does listen to.

In order to make Rauner’s donors and corporate beneficiaries more comfortable the delegation will don the accouterments of the rich and wealthy that they are used to dealing with including limo and red carpet.

WHAT: Delegation of community activists deliver invitations to Ken Griffin, GTCR, and Bank of America to attend community’s response to State of the State address.

WHEN: 4:00 p.m., Monday, January 25th, 2016

WHERE: Citadel, LLC headquarters, 131 S Dearborn St, Chicago IL

WHO: Members of Action Now; members of Brighton Park Neighborhood Council; members of the Chicago Teachers Union; memebers of SEIU Healthcare Illinois member.

Leading women Democrats Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski-Garza and MWRD Commissioner Debra Shore endorsed Theresa Mah’s candidacy for 2nd District State Representative, stating that she will be an independent voice championing issues for women, children, and working families.

“Our State needs leaders like Theresa in Springfield to help bring a holistic and independent perspective. Theresa is a highly-educated, experienced community advocate who brings policy experience to a State Legislature at a crucial time”, expressed Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

“The politics of status quo aren’t good enough for the people of the 10th Ward and they’re certainly not good enough for the people of the 2nd District. Governor Rauner has dragged our state to a standstill and we need elected officials who are going put up a real fight to make sure working families get a fair shake.” Garza continues, “I support Theresa Mah for 2nd District State Rep. because she’s an independent who doesn’t have to answer to a political boss, only to her constituents.”

“Theresa’s hard-working approach to public policy and community engagement is what makes her stand out. She’s been working hard her entire professional career, and I know that will continue in Springfield” declared MWRD Commissioner Debra Shore.

Supporters will be gathering on Saturday at an event Co-Chaired by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski-Garza and MWRD Commissioner Debra Shore. The event starts at 10:00 am at 1201 S. Prairie Ave. Press is allowed.

Theresa is a first-generation Chinese American running for 2nd District State Representative in the upcoming 2016 Democratic Primary and is attempting to become the first ever Asian American elected in the Illinois General Assembly. Educated at the University of California – Berkeley and the University of Chicago, Theresa has dedicated her professional career to public service as an educator, community advocate, and Senior policy advisor for former Governor Pat Quinn.

The Rev. Harold E. Bailey, founder of Probation Challenge, the first Illinois State Education Mandated program of its kind in the country, is disturbed as to the knowledge of black history among youth and many adults. Bailey believes if youth knew better – many would do better. He said “Tax payers should review and monitor why black schools in Chicago are closing at the expense of losing our future to the justice system. He said the schools are closing at the hands of City Hall political traitors.” He said there appears to be a partnership to dismantle black schools largely in the Chicago African American community. Now, as efforts have failed to find proper capitol to maintain Chicago Public School, the Illinois State Governor Bruce Rauner, proposes to do a take-over of the Chicago Public Schools which Bailey said is merely a pretense of aiding … but that it would not be with an honest intent.

Bailey said, “All city and state fraudulences have come forth only after the closing of schools, which has forced youth into the streets of the city … now the Calvary arrives?” Bailey said that the entire matter smacks of concerted racism between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his vacationing friend Governor Bruce Rauner. “The benefactor of these lame governmental financial ills will continue to be the criminal just us system.” Bailey said as youth drop out … they will drop into the criminal just us system where there’s unlimited dollars! He said, “These actions are old political ploys warmed over which causes distractions for leaders to achieve a greater gain. The greater gain appears to have a semblance of yesterdays when blacks were warehoused on plantations.

In the entire Chicago dilemma, the black communities South and Westside appear to always be at the bottom of the barrel for a hand’s up. With Chicago submerged in crime, drugs and community violence, Bailey said, “Do we even care to remember the horrific past of black people? It would be wise to instruct our youth that in the documented archives of these Not-So-United-States, it is reported that in order to vote, colored (blacks) had to assume how many jelly-beans were in a canister or jar and, of course they would never have an accurate count, thus they were not allowed to cast their votes. Many devises coupled with subliminal methods are applied even today to keep blacks from voting. Bailey believes at this stage of the game in Chicago – voting is the only way to get constructible Talk Back results that should lead to masses resignations from many political camps.

The minister of over 45-years, believes that some political leaders take the people for granted – only because they are allowed to – as in Flint, Michigan, where the majority of blacks are affected by the poisoned water. Question just ought to be: Where are the resignations and … who’s going to jail? The same applies to Chicago where many of the politicians have spite in the face of tax payers – and said that it was raining… so said an angry Bailey.

Bailey seems to believe that if youth had an opportunity to know hard-core truth regarding the across town activities … and if they knew that some would desire to have them not get that much needed education so they may compete in worldly affairs… they would immediately get that education – but they have been void of understanding… “I do believe the failure to communicate these critical matters on to African American and Hispanic youth … are intentional”, said Bailey!

History dictates: In remembering the multitude of black lives lost … while other blacks were penalized because it was whispered that Colored people were sneaking around and rallying people to get-out-the-vote. Going further down the road of devastations, recalled has it that many of our fore-parents were castrated or hung from a tree in the town-square as a reminder for others not to even entertain the thought of voting?

It is documented by Russell Brooker, PhD, that from about 1900 to 1965, most African Americans were not allowed to vote in the South. This was especially true in the Deep South: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.
White people in power used many methods to keep African Americans from voting. Some of these methods also prevented poor white people from voting.

Bailey asked the question, “Are the Chicago Police incidents and other horrific killings indicatives of historical yesterdays with slaves…and all was considered a way of life by the Master… thusly it was deemed as legal slaughter?”

Eight Ways People Were Kept From Voting

1) Violence: Blacks who tried to vote were threatened, beaten, and killed. Their families were also harmed. Sometimes their homes were burned down. Often, they lost their jobs or were thrown off their farms.
Brooker reported that whites used violence to intimidate blacks and prevent them from even thinking about voting. Still, some blacks passed the requirements to vote and took the risk. Some whites used violence to punish those “uppity” people and show other blacks what would happen to them if they voted.

2) Literacy tests: Today almost all adults can read. One hundred years ago, however, many people – black and white – were illiterate. Most illiterate people were not allowed to vote. A few were allowed if they could understand what was read to them. White officials usually claimed that whites could understand what was read. They said blacks could not understand it, even if they could.

3) Property tests: In the South one hundred years ago, many states allowed only property owners to vote. Many blacks and whites had no property and could not vote.

4) Grandfather clause: People who could not read and owned no property were allowed to vote if their fathers or grandfathers had voted before 1867. Of course, practically no blacks could vote before 1867, so the grandfather clause worked only for whites.

5) All-white primary elections: In the United States, there are usually two rounds of elections: first the primary, then the general. In the primary, Republicans run against Republicans and Democrats run against Democrats. In the general election, the winner of the Republican primary runs against the winner of the Democratic primary. The Republican or Democrat who gets the most votes is elected.
In the South from about 1900 to about 1960, the Democratic candidates usually won. (See the exhibit Political Parties in Black and White to learn the reason for this.) Republicans were almost never elected, especially in the Deep South. This means that the Democratic primary election was usually the only election that mattered.
African Americans were not allowed to vote in the Democratic primary elections. White Democrats said the Democratic Party was a “club” and did not allow black members. So blacks could not vote in the only elections that mattered.

6) Purges: From time to time, white officials purged the voting rolls. That means they took people’s names off the official lists of voters. Some voters would arrive at the polls and find that they were not registered to vote. Often they could not register to vote again until after the election. Purges more often affected blacks than whites.

7) Former prisoners: People who had gone to prison were often not allowed to vote. Blacks were very often arrested on trumped-up charges or for minor offenses. Sometimes, white owners of mines, farms, and factories simply needed cheap labor, and prisons provided it. This law kept many more blacks from voting than whites.

8) Poll taxes: In Southern states, people had to pay a tax to vote. The taxes were about $25 to $50 dollars in today’s money. Many people had extremely low incomes and could not afford this tax. This poll tax applied to all people who wanted to vote – black and white. There were ways for whites to get around other laws, but not around the poll tax. Many poor whites could not vote because of the poll tax.

Blacks Finally Got the Right to Vote – Not So Long Ago

In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. Millions of African Americans began voting as a result. This Act is generally considered the end of the Jim Crow Era.

Today, most of these ways to stop people from voting are illegal. The U.S. Supreme Court said that states could not use the grandfather clause and could not have all-white primary elections. The U.S. Constitution was amended in 1964 to make poll taxes illegal. Literacy and property tests are not used today. While violence is seldom used, voter intimidation does still occur.

But… there are still vestiges – laws and customs – that make it difficult or impossible for many black citizens and other minorities to vote.

• Former felons are not allowed to vote in most states. (Different states have different laws.)
An irate Bailey said, “I hasten to remind our youth and elders alike that the ideologies of yesterday … still exist; only players have changed? In others words the game is still the same. “

Present politicians now speak in codes as blatant racist in new clothing? They speak to the hearts of those who are ignorant and educational unlearned as to the history of Colored, Negro, Black or African American people. People of little learning seek only to keep status quo, until the rules of the game change because of the color or complexion of their skin.

Who’s next on the list of disapproval in this country accordant to radical politicians is rather frightening?

Colored (Niggers) were told rather than advised what to do! They then dared anyone to even under their breath to talk back. Does this sound like the measures that are happening in Chicago and around the United States today? Are blacks and Hispanics being told what to do – as years ago? Are they admonished to stay in their place! Question: Where is that place in America for African Americans and Hispanics?

I dare our youth and elders alike to maintain dignity and a great deal of respect as they journey to the polls to “talk back” to those who sit in seats of authority and have conspired with the ‘Master’ to punish what they deem …as the field Nigger continued to report to the Master. This is as many local and national political leaders subscribe to… the bidding of the Master.

Let’s not play games with ourselves, it is expected of our youth to destroy one-another. This form of genocide saves the KKK from doing its job! However, I challenge youth to not fight with the guns and other tools of destruction, but to pick up the tools of education … which blacks were not allow to even mention in the days of slavery. Talk back by going on to college and universities, seek scholarships and grants that will allow you then to reach back and help the less fortunate. But first, you must clean the political house that has stood in the way of educational progress for people of color by closing the instructions of learning. Talk Back!

Patricia Van Pelt’s failure to take even the smallest interest in education is a key reason our schools are in such peril today facing a forced bankruptcy, more layoffs, and leaving our children uneducated and unprepared for a chance at a good job and a decent life.

Despite being in office for four years, Van Pelt hasn’t taken a single action on education even though it’s the most pressing issue facing our District and our city.
“I urge everyone to look at Van Pelt’s record and show me how her work matches our priorities in the 5th District,” said State Senate candidate Bob Fioretti. “She’s been a do-nothing, and that translates into hurting the constituents.”

She’s voted to weaken unions, she’s voted to cut pensions for public employees, and generally worked against working families. She also voted to make it easier for felons, even sex offenders, to become teachers.

Because of negligence by her and other legislators, we are in the position we now find ourselves: at risk of Gov. Rauner forcing our schools into bankruptcy, dismantling the Chicago Teacher’s Union and using our children as hostages in the fight.

McALLEN, Texas – A Cuban citizen who was residing in McAllen has been ordered to federal prison for trafficking in access devices, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Alexis Acosta-Guzman, 40, pleaded guilty Nov. 3, 2015.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Acosta-Guzman a 100-month sentence. He was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $211,311.15 to five financial institutions that absorbed the loss of more than 1,000 victims. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that the defendant had prior similar criminal conduct. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.

From March 2013 through August 2015, Acosta-Guzman wired thousands of dollars in funds to individuals in China, Russia and the Ukraine. In return, he received more than 1,000 credit card numbers and other personal information that had been stolen from individuals in the United States. Acosta-Guzman transferred that information to others using various email accounts.

He and co-conspirators would then use special devices and the stolen information to create physical credit cards. They used the fraudulent credit cards to make purchases throughout Texas at different retailers and convenience stores.

As a result of the scheme, hundreds of people lost more than $211,000 for the fraudulent charges.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Secret Service, FBI and the McAllen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Lindenmuth and Joseph T. Leonard prosecuted the case.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education congratulates two Illinois high school students selected as delegates to the 54th annual U.S. Senate Youth Program. Kiley Marron of Chicago and Corbin Robinson of Scott Air Force Base were chosen from applicants across the state to receive a scholarship and to represent Illinois for a weeklong educational visit to Washington, D.C., in March.

“This highly competitive program provides students a rare firsthand look at the inner workings of our political system and the democratic process and helps foster a deep interest in public service and civic engagement,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D. “Kiley and Corbin’s selection is a huge accomplishment, and the Board is proud to have these two exceptional students representing our state.”

The U.S. Senate Youth Program was created in 1962 and annually brings 104 outstanding high school students – two from each state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity – to Washington, D.C., for an intensive, week-long study of the federal government and its leaders. In addition to the program week, the Hearst Foundations fund the program and provide each student with a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship, with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history, and public affairs.

Kiley Marron attends William Jones College Preparatory High School in Chicago and serves as her class vice president. She is active in a variety of extracurricular and service activities either at her school or around Chicago. She said her best service experience occurred when she spent a month in the Dominican Republic working to facilitate a community initiative while also leading a youth day camp focused on promoting children’s rights. Kiley plans to pursue a career in law with a focus on intellectual property.

Corbin Robinson is a senior at Mascoutah High School and serves as the Illinois Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) state vice president, Southwestern area. The FBLA and March of Dimes partnership has offered Corbin many school and community service opportunities to develop his leadership skills. Before moving to Illinois, he served as a Senate page of the North Carolina General Assembly in 2014 and volunteered for the Harnett County Teen Court. Corbin’s plans are to study economics and pre-law in college.

During their trip to Washington March 5-12, Kiley, Corbin, and their fellow delegates will attend meetings and briefings with senators, House representatives and congressional staff, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of Cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States, and senior members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums and they will stay at the historic Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.

Sung “Shawn“ Park of Naperville, who attends Metea Valley High School, and Connor Kaeb, who attends Cissna Park High School, were chosen as alternates to the 2016 program.

The chief educational officer in each state selects the delegates after nomination by teachers and principals. Superintendent Smith selected this year’s delegates for Illinois.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith, in criticizing a lack of Black nominees for Oscars, said “People of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together? People can only treat us in the way in which we allow.”

Director Spike Lee, who will receive an honorary Oscar, asked, “How Is It Possible For The 2nd Consecutive Year All 20 Contenders Under The Actor Category Are White?”

He noted that the Academy Awards is “not where the ‘real’ battle is” and TV and film executives must actively seek out more productions with actors of color, and to hire people of color as executives to help diversify the entertainment world.

We at the National Urban League have long supported efforts to diversify the entertainment industry. And I will be joining Pinkett Smith and Lee in boycotting the Awards until these efforts begin to bear results. Read more in this week’s To Be Equal column.

CHICAGO, IL – The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that Illinois’ nonfarm payroll employment lost -16,300 jobs and the unemployment rate in December rose 0.2 percentage points to 5.9 percent, based on preliminary data released by the Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to IDES labor market analysts, Illinois’ average job growth since the employment recovery began in January 2010 remains well below the national average, and employment will not recover from the 2007-2009 recession until September 2017. The nation is currently 3.5 percent above its prior peak level of employment.

“For the first time since 2009, Illinois ended a year with fewer jobs than when we started,” said Jeff Mays, Director, IDES. “Even as the nation gained more than 2.6 million jobs in 2015, Illinois lost 3,000.”

The state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national unemployment rate reported for December, which held at 5.0 percent. In December, the unemployment rate stood 0.3 percentage points below the unemployment rate a year ago when it was 6.2 percent. The number of unemployed workers increased +4.9 percent from the prior month to 390,000 and was down -2.9 percent over the same month for the prior year. The unemployment rate identifies those individuals who are out of work and are seeking employment. An individual who exhausts or is ineligible for benefits is still reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

The BLS revised down November nonfarm payroll employment data, which showed a decline (-6,500) in Illinois rather than the preliminary estimate of a slight gain (+400). In December, the three industry sectors with the largest gains in employment were: Construction (+6,700); Manufacturing (+500); and Government (+300). The four industry sectors with the largest declines in employment were: Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-12,100); Professional and Business Services (-4,600); Educational and Health Services (-2,100) and Information (-2,100).

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased by -3000 jobs with the largest gains in Education and Health Services (+6,200); Professional and Business Services (+5,400); and Construction (+5,100). Several sectors posted over-the-year declines in December but the two largest were: Manufacturing (-14,000); and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-6,900).

“Even as people return to the labor force, Illinois continues to lose jobs at a staggering rate, and statewide unemployment continues to creep up,” Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Director Jim Schultz said. “We must make fundamental changes to the our state’s business climate to promote growth and job creation if Illinois is going to become competitive and start sharing in the growth the rest of the country is enjoying.”

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

Illinois Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Jobs – by Major Industry

Notes:

Monthly 1976-2014 labor force data for Illinois, and all other states, have been revised using new, fourth generation state time-series models, as required by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The monthly historical revisions to state labor force estimates reflect new national benchmark controls, state working-age population controls, seasonal factors, as well as updated total nonfarm jobs and unemployment benefits claims inputs. Illinois labor force data were also smoothed to eliminate large monthly changes as a result of volatility in the monthly Census Population Survey (CPS) and national benchmarking. For these reasons, comments and tables citing unemployment rates in previous state news releases/materials might no longer be valid.

Not seasonally adjusted jobs data with industry detail are available at http://www.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/Pages/CES.aspx “Other Services” include activities in three broad categories: Personal and laundry; repair and maintenance; and religious, grant making, civic and professional organizations. Seasonally adjusted employment data for subsectors within industries are not available.

CHICAGO, IL — Illinois State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago 16th), chair of the Senate Financial Institutions Committee, will hold a subject-matter hearing Monday to hear from business owners, advocates and elected officials on predatory lending, lack of access to capital and the effect on small businesses, particularly those owned by minorities.

The number of loans issued by banks to small businesses has dropped by 20 percent since 2008. Alternative lenders have stepped into the gap, but without the same consumer protections that apply when individuals borrow money, small business owners are vulnerable to misleading and predatory practices. Businesses located in minority neighborhoods are disproportionately disadvantaged, and the lack of reliable access to capital remains a major challenge to economic growth in low-income, high-unemployment areas.

WHO: Sen. Collins and members of the Senate Financial Institutions Committee

City of Chicago Treasurer Kurt Summers

Representatives of advocacy and research groups with expertise

on the issue

Small business owners

WHAT:Subject matter hearing on predatory lending and access to capital for Illinois small businesses

Committee members will hear testimony on existing resources and how state policy changes could help protect small business owners seeking loans from confusing, misleading and predatory terms.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Commemorative coins, stamps, and jewelry are among the 11,000 items worth over $54,000 to be auctioned online January 25 – 29, said Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs.

“Our unclaimed property team works hard to return valuables to their rightful owners,” Frerichs said. “If the property goes unclaimed for 10 years, the items are auctioned to make room for incoming unclaimed items.”

Items include US gold coins from the early 1900s; imperial Russian coins from the 1800s; an autographed photo of Bears legend Dick Butkus; and gold and silver jewelry. Auction items have been appraised by an outside vendor. Auction participants can register at illinoistreasurer.govand click on the Unclaimed Property Auction link. For questions, call 217.557.8567.

The Illinois Treasurer’s office is the custodian of unclaimed property including lost bank accounts, insurance policy proceeds, and forgotten safe deposit boxes. Items are auctioned after private and public entities tried for at least 10 years to locate the owners. The office secures more than $2 billion in unclaimed property. Individuals can search by name at illinoistreasurer.gov. Because thousands of items are surrendered each year, residents should check every six months.

Treasurer Frerichs’ office never charges money to search or return unclaimed property. Auction proceeds will be held for rightful owners until they are identified.

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Welcome to CopyLine Magazine! The first issue of CopyLine Magazine was published in November, 1990, by Editor & Publisher Juanita Bratcher. CopyLine’s main focus is on the political arena – to inform our readers and analyze many of the pressing issues of the day - controversial or otherwise. Our objectives are clear – to keep you abreast of political happenings and maneuvering in the political arena, by reporting and providing provocative commentaries on various issues. For more about CopyLine Magazine, CopyLine Blog, and CopyLine Television/Video, please visit juanitabratcher.com, copylinemagazine.com, and oneononetelevision.com. Bratcher has been a News/Reporter, Author, Publisher, and Journalist for 33 years. She is the author of six books, including “Harold: The Making of a Big City Mayor” (Harold Washington), Chicago’s first African-American mayor; and “Beyond the Boardroom: Empowering a New Generation of Leaders,” about John Herman Stroger, Jr., the first African-American elected President of the Cook County Board. Bratcher is also a Poet/Songwriter, with 17 records – produced by HillTop Records of Hollywood, California. Juanita Bratcher Publisher